The further you get away from campus the less of the OVERWHELMING CROWD factor you will have to contend with. ***Do make a reservation in any case, especially since you say "extended".*** Local restaurants have a hard time managing all of your VU brethren and sistren - such a burst of hungry, excited people all at once!

I like the Cassis suggestion. Ristorante Primavera can definitely handle a big family and they are definitely all that: nice, not too fancy, reasonably priced. Good Italian food, good service; I've had many happy family meals there.

I graduated from Villanova 2 years ago and had my post-event lunch with the same size party at Primavera. Relaxed, not stuffy, reasonable priced, and not as crowded as somewhere like Christopher's (which I think is incredibly overrated, anyway). Not super upscale, but good food with enough variety that anyone- even kids- could find something they liked. Congratulations to your family!

Villanova conference center about a mile from campus is doing a special brunch on sunday after graduation im not sure how expensive it is but they have a good rep for alot of food for not alot of money